Woodsong Shooting Injures Man, 31

NEWPORT NEWS — A 31-year-old Smithfield man told police he was jumped and then shot as he tried to escape from an assailant early Wednesday at Woodsong Apartments.

Although police have stepped up patrols at the complex since a murder there two weeks ago, department spokesman Sgt. Michael Brewer said there were no police in the area when the shooting occurred at about 2 a.m.

The victim, Larry Wynn, told police he was walking in the area of 5561 Orcutt Ave., within the apartment complex, when he was jumped by an unknown man who threw him to the ground.

During a scuffle, Wynn managed to escape, and, as he ran from the attacker, he was shot in his lower left back, Brewer said.

Wynn, who at first refused treatment, was examined by city paramedics and taken to Riverside Regional Medical Center. He underwent surgery and was listed in satisfactory condition Wednesday night.

Brewer said Wynn has refused to cooperate with detectives and consequently had no further information.

"All we know is that he was shot and he said he was in Woodsong."

Police Chief Jay A. Carey Jr. ordered beefed-up patrols at Woodsong April 19 in reaction to residents' complaints that police assigned there were not effective in curbing open drug dealing and frequent assaults.

The action came five days after a man was shot in the head while sitting in front of one of the apartments in the 480-unit complex in what police said was a drug-related slaying.

Two of three men sought in the shooting have been arrested.

Carey's order involved as many as 10 extra police officers, drawn from the drug, uniform patrol, canine and other units of the department, Brewer said at the time.

He said the officers were being reassigned from other duties but declined comment on specifics about the effort, which resulted in several arrests at the complex in its first days.

Brewer said Wednesday that extra patrols of the complex have been continuing on a staggered basis.

"You can't justify having 10 police officers there if there is nothing going on," he said.